G(irls)20 Summit: 9 Holy-Wow Moments From the 2012 Event (These Are Your Next Batch of World Leaders, Ladies!)

If you're tuned into politics, you know about the G-20 summits, when reps from the world's 20 largest economies (19 countries plus the European Union) come together to talk world finances, and hopefully solve some big problemos. I won't judge, however, if you haven't heard of the G(irls)20 Summit, even though it hits home a lot more than dudes in suits yelling at each other--I can't judge, because I had no idea what it was, either. But now I'm obsessed, and I promise you will be, too.

brings together one girl, aged 18-20, from each G20 country, two weeks before the G20 leaders meeting to look at their agenda thru the lens of the economic empowerment of girls and women and the importance of inclusion.

The delegates have their own summit with panels, workshops, and caucus to create real-world solutions for economic and political empowerment for women's issues. Their messages go back to their own countries, as well as to the G20 leaders--and yes, your mind should be absolutely, completely blown right now, because the scale of what these young women accomplish really is that incredible.

The Power Panel moderated by Amanda Alvaro, Managing Director of Narrative Advocacy in Toronto was an inspirational panel. Mayra Gonzalez of Nissan, Adrian Norena of Google Latin America, and Nicole Reich of Scotiabank shared advice with G(irls)20 Summit delegates. I love this quote from the panel from Reich: "I'm not sure a glass ceiling exists, but if it is there, it's just glass. It's not concrete. Break it."

Visiting Huichapan, Mexico with the Canadian Embassy. Huichapan is a remote town outside of Mexico City--here, delegates are being welcomed by their local community as they celebrated their Saint's Day. A dispatch directly from the summit: "When we arrived at the village, unbeknownst to us, the local people were just about to begin a feast. They emptied the chairs, invited us to sit and fed us like royal guests. Then, some of the local men got our delegates up to dance as local musicians played. Later that afternoon as we toured a local farm, we were shown the inside of one local woman's home. It was a three-walled cinderblock structure with a corrugated tin roof. The woman, Natalia, had built her own brick oven by hand, used a cistern to collect water for washing and irrigation of her small garden, and had devised a filtration system using ash from her stove to filter waste from her makeshift toilet to recycle waste water. It was a fantastic lesson for the delegates and an opportunity for them to see the hurdles a woman smallholder farmer faces."

Delegates meeting local farmers and learning about the eco-technology they utilize to farm and feed their families and community. Why is this so important? Countries where women lack land ownership have, on average, 60 percent more malnourished children.

Naturally, with so many brilliant women in one place, so many friendships were forged at the G(irls)20 Summit in Mexico City. (I'm jealous!)

Plus, organizers of the summit shared these moments, which nearly raised me out of my chair and had me shouting:

All the delegates sang happy birthday on stage to Priyanka, the Indian delegate, who turned 19 during the summit.

The delegates came together at the hotel pool one evening to teach the African delegates how to swim.

Over lunch one day, the delegates from South Korea, South Africa, and the European Union proactively sketched out a proposal to encourage women in rural communities to become politically active. They stayed up until one a.m. filling in the details. No, this wasn't an assignment--they did it on their own.

In the deliberations, delegates rose their placards to speak on behalf of an issue or barrier faced by a country other than their own.Now that's the kind of stuff we share on Inspired, ladies.

Would you want to represent the United States (or your own country!) in the G(irls)20 Summit? Does seeing this kind of work from brilliant young women empower you?